Does perfection hinder growth?
HR Download - Global HR practices, Times Ascent | 27 August 2010 | Lakshmi Shailaja
One fine day, a teacher much loved and respected by the students, entered his classroom with an empty container, sand and pebbles of all sizes and shapes. Having set them down on the table, he asked his students to put them all in the container. One of the smartest of his students, walked up to the table, and picked up the largest pebble first and dropped it in the container. He then went on dropping pebbles from bigger to smaller size one by one, so that the small pebbles snugly fitted into the gaps left between the bigger ones. Once done, he then poured in the sand, and completed the task. Everything fell into place, just the way it should be.
Perfection implies the value of creating perfect products, such as those created by the industrial and technology giants like BMW, Apple and the like. While these companies have many competitors in the market, competing in the same area and in the same product, the secret behind their growth and success is their compelling urge to attain perfection in whatever they do. However, always focusing on small details and having a craving for perfection can prove to be very disadvantageous. Have you ever caught yourself thinking this thought in a moment of self-assessment? Have you wondered how you could break the habit of being fastidious in matters that don’t need perfection? ‘I am a perfectionist and while I pride myself on doing some jobs really well I think I sometimes miss out on doing a lot more because I’m tied down by the nitty-gritty that doesn’t really matter”.
Perfection maybe a good thing in small measure, but when one is driven by the idea of perfection to the point of obsession, one can experience enormous stress, which keeps one from being constructive. The irony of trying to be perfect is that while you believe you and everyone else benefits from it, it often leads to a profound sense of self lack because however well you may perform you always fall short of your own high expectations. This keeps you from moving forward. A perfectionist arises from an unhealthy place in his or her drive towards achievement. In sharp contrast a true achiever arises from a place of passion and inspiration.
Billions of years have gone past since the universe first started expanding to reach its present state of evolution. And while it still expands, evolves and grows each one of us by virtue of being a part of this dynamic force is also propelled to grow. Growth is an essential and ingrained component of life. Growth happens in various physical spheres of an individual’s life. Growth also is experienced in emotional areas and determines the level of joy and love shared in relationships, and success and efficiency at work. The need for growth is essential to propel one forward. Human life without growth leads to degeneration. And while growth is required and demanded of one and all, isconceptions regarding growth can be very misleading and inhibiting. We need to understand that growth is not a one-point destination but rather a progressive movement towards excellence. And
just as there is no absolute end to the evolution of the universe there is no absolute end to growth in our lives too.
Growth or progress keeps one physically and mentally alive but when it becomes an obsessive ideal, the need for perfection arises and limits one from expanding one’s horizons of knowledge. A perfectionist cannot stand tall in challenging moments since he is obsessed with being the best rather than doing things to the best of his ability and gaining satisfaction from it.
To stay on the path of progress and not be driven by the ideal of perfection, an enquiry into the self is vital. Self enquiry is one of the most important tools in determining the best way forward in life. It is a mirror of our minds and helps us understand ourselves and our actions. In the case of perfection and progress, self enquiry could reveal whether one is driven solely by the idea of perfection when faced with a task or whether one is propelled to move forward using inspiration and passion as tools for growth.
Author :
Lakshmi Shailaja
Faculty, One World Academy
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